Are Crown Fires Necessary For Table Mountain Pine?

Abstract

Ridgetop pine communities of the southern Appalachian Mountains have historically been maintained by lightning- and human-caused fires. Because of fire supression for several decades, these stands are entering later seral stages. Such stands typically have an overstory of Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens) that is being replaced by shade tolerant chesnut oaks (Quercus prinus). The shrub layer consists of dense mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Previous research suggests that restoration of these communities can be accomplished with high-intensity fires that open the forest canopy and expose mineral soil. Three recent studies examined plant-community response to high-intensity prescribed fires. A series of four supporting studies helps to explain some of the results of these field studies. High- and medium-high-intensity fires provided adequate sunlight for pine seedlings, whereas medium-low- and low-intensity fires did not. Post-burn duff was deep (

Citation

Waldrop, Thomas A.; Brose, Patrick H.; Welch, Nicole Turrill; Mohr, Helen H.; Gray, Ellen A.; Tainter, Frank H.; Ellis, Lisa E. 2003. Are Crown Fires Necessary For Table Mountain Pine?. Pages 157-163 in K.E.M. Galley, R.C. Klinger, and N.G Sugibara eds.). Fire Conference 2000: The First National Congress on Fire Ecology, Prevention, and Management. Miscellaneous Publication No. 13. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.